Review Blog

Jul 07 2017

The world's worst children 2 by David Walliams

Ill. by Tony Ross. HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9780008259679
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. One thing is an absolute given in our
library. David Walliams' books are rarely re-shelved. They are
snatched up from the returns trolley with the speed of a striking
mongoose or tussled over in the actual returns line up. Walliams has
a legion of followers and has fast become the contemporary Roald
Dahl with his knack of preposterous stories and outrageous
characters.
This follow up to the first World's Worst Children brings
his readers ten more particularly horrid kids and will produce as
much laughter as the previous.
Imagine having a baby so huge and so hungry that it will eat
anything and everything - and by everything, I mean the cat, his
parents, helicopters - yes, ANYTHING! Or perhaps you'd rather meet
Gruesome Griselda who prefers to stand out from the other girls at
her exclusive school, the well-groomed polite ones, by being
exceedingly grubby and rude. Then there's Cruel Clarissa who seems
to be just perfect particularly with her passion for all things pink
but is really a very calculating kitty tormentor. These are but a
few of the beastly children to whom readers will flock.
With super colourful illustrations jam-packed throughout and some of
the most creative use of font/type I have ever seen, there is no
doubt that this one is also destined never to be shelved. If I only
I could be bribed. I could make a fortune for holding out for the
highest bidder as the first borrower - sigh.
Highly recommended for subversive boys and girls from around 7 years
old upwards.
Sue Warren